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brIELLE

A fter a quick stop to change, I drove to the tiny one-bedroom apartment Mom and Serena stayed in near her school.

It was a far cry from the luxury they were used to living in.

I didn’t include myself because I’d been in the dorms when my family’s world had imploded.

I took a deep breath and let myself inside.

I gasped as I stepped into the family room, which continued to the tiny kitchen.

Serena sat on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV.

A grimace sounded when she saw me taking in the racks of clothing filling most of the room, except for a walkway to the kitchen and hallway.

Designer clothes by the hundreds hung from the portable rods, some still with tags.

“What’s all that?” I flung my hand, pointing at the clothes that hadn’t been there the last time I’d visited, sometime around two weeks ago. Or was it three?

“Mom’s been shopping.” She air quoted, “‘I simply cannot wear the same outfit when meeting my friends. That just wouldn’t do.’”

“With what money?”

Another shrug from my pajama-wearing sister. “My college fund? Ask her yourself.” Her hand flung toward the kitchen. “And if you didn’t see it, she bought a Jag.”

I stumbled before catching my footing. A Jaguar cost roughly a hundred thousand dollars—because I knew my mom wouldn’t buy a lower-end vehicle.

I picked my way around the clutter until I saw Mom leaning against the counter, topping off her glass of chardonnay.

“It’s barely lunchtime.” The words left my mouth before I could censor them.

Cool disdain tugged at her perfectly made-up face. “You don’t live here, Brielle, and have no right to judge.”

My simmering temper erupted. “Well, Veronica, you still have a daughter living here who you’re setting a shit example for.”

A perfectly manicured brow arched high. “Veronica? Since when am I not Mom?”

“Start acting like one, and maybe I’ll call you that again.”

She slammed the bottle onto the counter, eyes narrowing with menace. “I’m the one who’s stuck by you girls, and you’re going to talk to me like that? Get out.” Her arm extended, finger pointing toward the door. “Come back when you can treat me with the respect I deserve.”

I took a deep breath to calm the emotions swirling inside.

She was right. Through everything, she had been there for us, just not dealing with it well herself.

How she coped was what infuriated me. I couldn’t let go of my complaints.

“I’m not here for you, so no. And what the hell are all these new clothes?

You have a new car, too, a Jaguar? Where did you get the money for all that?

” I eyed the diamonds sparkling at her ears, neck, and wrist, noting that those were new as well.

Oh God, she really did clean out Ser’s college fund — and there’s the proof.

Her nose tilted higher, returning her aura to the pretentious millionaire’s wife she used to be. “Your father always provides for me, even when he can’t be by my side. ”

She was unbelievable. “What fantasy world are you living in? That makes absolutely no sense. The feds froze all the accounts and took the money away. How are you buying all this? And if you somehow have money, why isn’t that going to Ser’s education?”

“Yeah!” Ser yelled from the couch.

I sucked in a breath and counted slowly in my head to try calming down.

I had to tread carefully, or Veronica could kick my sister out, especially if Ser sided with me.

And I only thought that because of the unhinged look in her eyes.

“I’m just trying to understand what’s going on here, and if there is money, can some of it go toward Ser’s tuition next year? ”

Veronica sniffed as if she smelled something foul.

“The money is allocated for my use from your father. We didn’t discuss college.

I’ve already told Serena”—she leaned unsteadily around me and glared at Ser—“she needs to find a suitable boyfriend and get engaged by the year’s end. Earlier if she can manage it.”

“She’s seventeen.” I deadpanned then rubbed my temples. I couldn’t handle my mom’s delusion, not after last night. “Just… whatever. We can talk about this later. Ser, get dressed. We’re leaving to get coffee.”

Veronica saluted me with her almost-empty wineglass. “Good. Maybe you can help her find someone. Perhaps the Vanderbilt boys. You know the older one, don’t you?”

“Sure, I know Chad.” No way in hell. Chad and Charles were assholes.

I wouldn’t subject my sister to either of them.

But I could already feel Veronica’s lecture brewing, and I wasn’t up for it.

It happened every time I saw her. “Why aren’t you engaged yet?

There are plenty of eligible men from our circle” —which was a joke, as those people had ostracized us.

She just didn’t see it because she was always drunk.

Ser must’ve known what was coming because she materialized at my side, dressed in jean shorts and a T-shirt, and she tugged on my arm. “Okay, let’s go. Bye, Mom.”

I let her pull me to the door, and once we were through, she sagged against it in the hallway. “What were you thinking? She’s nuts when she’s blotto like that.”

“I don’t know.” I sighed. “I was shocked. Where is the money coming from?”

“She doesn’t tell me anything.” Ser started for the stairs, and I followed her. “But the last time she visited Dad, she went on a shopping spree. I think he told her where or how to get her hands on some elusive cash he hid or something.”

“That’s disturbing. And wouldn’t that put a target on her back? Aren’t the feds watching what she does?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Ser slammed her palms against the metal door that led outside.

I hiked my laptop bag higher on my shoulder and studied my sister. Ser had long, toned legs and dark-brown hair that fell an inch from her tiny waist. She had big brown eyes that she got from Dad too. She was stunning, and even at seventeen, she was an inch taller than me.

“ Are you dating anyone?”

The sidewalk was mostly desolate as we turned right and headed toward the coffee shop on the corner. The neighborhood wasn’t bad—unless held to Veronica’s standards. To me, it was quaint, and the barista was a goddess. She made the best drinks, even better than the place on campus.

“Ser?” I realized she’d never answered me.

She spared me an eye roll then fixed her gaze straight ahead. “Are you going to harp on me like Mom?”

“No.” I couldn’t stop my lip from curling in disgust. “I don’t hold value in a guy’s bank account.

What’s important is who he is on the inside and how he treats you.

” A graphic image of Ares crowding me popped into my head, and I fanned my face, suddenly overheated.

Okay, looks and chemistry were up there too.

I couldn’t deny it based on my reaction to him and how easily I’d fallen into his bed.

Ugh, I was pathetic. But… I pursed my lips, deep in thought.

I wouldn’t pass up another opportunity. The guy was amazing.

My stress from the night had completely melted away, and his stamina was the stuff of dreams.

“Well, I don’t hold value in a guy romantically.”

“Wait, what?” I glanced at Ser then grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop walking and look at me. “What are you saying? And don’t take my shock as anything negative, because it’s not.”

Another roll of her eyes, and I had to press my lips together to keep from laughing at her dramatic expressions. It was a big deal. I’d had suspicions about her sexuality, but she’d never outright said anything. And her confiding in me was… well, I was honored.

She crossed her arms and jutted a slender hip. “Fine. If you must know, I’m not dating any of Mom’s horrible choices because I’m not interested in guys like that. I like girls.”

I pulled her into a quick hug, and after a second, she wrapped her arms around me.

“Thank you for sharing that with me,” I said.

When I released her, she grinned but rolled her eyes, pink staining her cheeks.

“And my question stands. Are you dating anyone?”

She peered at me closely. “You mean, you won’t try to talk me out of my preferences?”

“No. Why would I?” Then my jaw dropped. I narrowed my eyes, fury bubbling to the surface all over again. “Did Mom do that?”

“Sort of. Well, yes.” She shifted from foot to foot. “She thinks it’s just a phase or experimenting. Not… real. But trust me, I’ve been on a few dates with boys, and I’ve never been surer in my life.”

“Ahh, she thinks you’re rebelling.” I understood perfectly .

Veronica lived in her own world, not accepting that her daughters had other goals, likes, and dislikes.

We were supposed to be little Stepford wives in training.

And the fact that she’d made my sister go on dates that weren’t her choosing, because I was sure that was what had happened, made me sick.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m out of there in a year, and she won’t be able to tell me what to do or think then.”

She just had to make it until then. I understood that all too well. “I had the same mindset my last year in high school. Don’t worry. You’ll survive, and if it gets too bad, you can crash in my room with Mal. She won’t care.”

All the tension drained from Ser, and she fell into my arms. “Thanks, sis.”

I laughed then released her. “You’re welcome.”

We walked the rest of the way while Ser chatted about the tennis team and her friends on it—her real friends, the ones who didn’t judge her because she had no money or because of our parents’ sins.

A bell jingled overhead when I pushed open the door to the coffee shop. The atmosphere inside instantly put me at ease with the subdued lighting and comfortable wood and metal-accented furniture. Then there was the smell. Roasted coffee beans, cinnamon, and sugar. Yes, please.

“Hi, Remi.”

At Ser’s dreamy voice, I jerked my gaze to the pretty brunette at the register. The other girl had a shy smile for my sister.